Gardens an answer to prayer at Harvey Fellowship Homes

Monday

Jun 23, 2014 at 10:46 PM

Nearly 43 years later, her vision came true as 10 raised garden boxes, donated by Zion United Methodist Church, were dedicated Monday.

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Since the complex opened in 1971, Lillian Farmer has always envisioned having a community garden at the Harvey Fellowship Homes.Nearly 43 years later, her vision came true as 10 raised garden boxes, donated by Zion United Methodist Church, were dedicated Monday.The boxes will be tended to by at least a dozen of the more than 50 residents of the complex, which has traditionally offered subsidized housing to seniors.“I’m happy. Hallelujah,” Farmer said. “Out of all the managers we have had, Jacki Gibson was the one that fulfilled the vision.”Gibson, however, gives the thanks to Zion United, by way of intervention from a higher power.“It was truly an answer to a prayer,” said Gibson, who added that she had earlier asked for funds for a garden from the property managers.“They didn’t say yes right away, but they also didn’t say no. Then the church came and offered the residents a box on the church grounds. I asked if we could put it here, because many of the residents are in motorized or push wheelchairs,” she said. “They bought everything. They were fantastic.”Mary Rutledge, who is with the church, said last year they built a raised-bed garden for their Sunday school class and had great success.“They had a lot of fun last year. You’d be surprised at how many kids in the city never have seen a zucchini,” Rutledge said. “This year, Sandra Rawlings had the idea to take it out to the community, specifically Harvey Fellowship. Little did we know that Miss Farmer was praying for this as well. What seemed to come out of nowhere came out of a lot of prayer.”Rutledge said the church hopes to continue installing gardens throughout the community.“I would like to see every family in our low-income area to have a sustainable garden,” she said.Farmer, now 94, was the driving force behind building the 50-unit complex, which opened the summer of 1971.For nearly 10 years before, she did whatever was needed to raise money for the project.“I had to sell pies, sell penny candies and cookies. I went all over Ocala selling. Finally, we found this spot,” said Farmer, who has lived at the complex for decades.Though a brain tumor has taken her sight, Farmer is still in tune with the community thanks to Gibson.“I try to describe to her what she can’t see anymore,” Gibson said.Gibson also said she often visits with Farmer, especially when she is feeling overwhelmed.“She really is the soul of the community. Even our maintenance man stops in to talk with her. He says, ‘I just like talking to her,’ ” Gibson said.Farmer, who lives with her daughter, exudes enthusiasm and gives encouragement freely.“She gives me strength and she makes me laugh. She will say, ‘Let’s pray,’ and I close my eyes and bow my head and after a few seconds she’ll say, ‘Why aren’t you praying?’ ” Gibson said.For most of her life, Farmer worked countless hours on community projects, including on elderly issues, and established a dining hall to feed the low-income elderly.Still, her original vision for the Harvey Fellowship Homes, which was named after her father, was to be a community center with programs for all ages. While the complex did not become that center, many services for the community, including many for children, were established around the complex, making it an active area for all ages.The center has a dining area where residents can bring food. Farmer, who has cancer, said she would like to have a meal served in the dining area for her and all the current tenants, but paying for it would be a challenge.“She may not be with us much longer,” Gibson said. “I’d really like to give her that dinner.”